A class apart – assault rifles used by the world’s biggest armies

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Assault rifles such as the M16, AK-47M and K2 provide precise, powerful and reliable firepower. Army-technology.com profiles the major assault rifles in service with the world's biggest armies.

M16A2/A4 Assault Rifle

The M16 series assault rifles are weapons of choice of the US Armed Forces, one of the world's biggest armies, and are chambered for NATO 5.56x45mm ammunition. More than eight million M16 rifles have been sold to 15 NATO states and over 80 countries.

The M16 variants are in service with the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the latest among them is the M16A4 which was inducted during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The shortened version of the M16A2, M4 Carbine supplements the M16 that is in use with most of the US Army combat units.

The M16A4 weighs 3.26kg and integrates a removable carrying handle and rail mounting for installing optical sights and other auxiliary devices. The rifle has a rate of fire of 700 to 950 rounds and effective range of 600m.

The AK-74M, an improved version of the AK-74 5.45mm rifle, is the Russian Army's standard issue assault rifle. The AK-74M is also in service with the military forces of Afghanistan, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, North Korea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The rifle features a dove-tail side rail for mounting optical and night sights and can be fitted with an under-barrel grenade launcher or a bayonet. Its brake ensures accuracy in cyclic fire mode and also minimises muzzle climb and burst recoil. The forearm, magazine, shoulder stock and pistol grip are made of high strength plastic, while the metal components are covered with protective coatings for corrosion resistance.

The rifle weighs 3.9kg with a loaded magazine of 30 rounds, and has a cyclic rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute and range of 1,000m.

K2 Assault Rifle

The K2 assault rifle from S&T Motiv is the standard issue rifle for the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA). It is a gas operated, selective fire rifle capable of firing NATO 5.56mm and Remington .223 ammunition.

The K2 rifle replaced the M16A1 assault rifle of the South Korean Armed Forces and is also used by the forces of Bangladesh, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Lebanon, Malawi, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines and Senegal.

The Korean assault rifle weighs 3.26kg without magazine and can be fed through a 30-round magazine. It can fire at a rate of 750 rounds a minute for an effective range of 500m. Targets are aimed at through a hooded front sight and a dual aperture rear sight.

QBZ-95

The QBZ-95/Type-95 is the standard issue assault rifle of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and is also exported to Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan. It is chambered for a Chinese made DBP87 5.8x42mm rounds.

The QBZ-95 is a gas operated, automatic rifle incorporating bullpup design. It is fed by 30 round magazine and can fire 650 rounds per minute to an effective range of 600m.

The rifle features hooded front sight post and rear sight base, while its rail mounting points allow the mounting of optical or night vision scopes. It can be mounted with an under-barrel grenade launcher or a bayonet.

H&K-33E

The H&K-33E, an improved variant of Heckler & Koch HK-33 assault rifle, is the standard issue rifle of the Turkish Land Forces. The HK33 series of rifles are in use with defence forces in more than 25 nations.

The HK-33E is a selective fire rifle employing roller-delayed blowback mechanism. It is fed by a 25, 30, or 40-round detachable box magazine. The rifle weighs 3.9kg with fixed butt stock and without magazine.

It can fire at a cyclic rate of 750 rounds per minute for an effective range of 600m. The drum-type rear sight and hooded front sight ensures precision aiming. The rifle is also provided with claw-type mounts for mounting telescopic sights.

INSAS Rifle

The INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) 5.56mm rifle is the standard service rifle of the Indian Army and is also used by the armies of Bhutan, Nepal and Oman. The gas-operated rifle is chambered for NATO 5.56x45mm SS 109 and M 193 ammunition.

The compact rifle features chrome-plated barrel, as well as pistol grip, hand guard and buttstock made of high strength plastic. The rifle weighs 4.15kg without magazine (20-round) and bayonet.

The weapon has a cyclic rate of fire of 600 to 650 rounds per minute and can fire rounds in single shot or three round burst modes to an effective range of 400m. It can be mounted with a 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher, passive night sight/ daylight telescope and multi-purpose bayonet.

Type-68 (AKM) Assault Rifle

The Type-68 (AKM) assault rifle, which is a North Korean copy of the Russian AKM assault rifle, is the standard service rifle of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (KPAGF). The Type-68 rifle is chambered for 7.62mm ball ammunition.

The rifle weighs 3.6kg with loaded 30-round detachable box magazine but lacks the rate reducer found in the AKM rifle. It is provided with rear sight notch on sliding tangent as well as front post, and can be fitted with a grenade launcher and bayonet.

The gas-operated rifle has a cyclic rate of fire of 640 rounds a minute and an effective range of 300m.

G3A3 Automatic Rifle

The G3A3 automatic rifle, derived from Heckler & Koch G3, is produced by Pakistan Ordnance Factories for the Pakistan Army. The modern rifle is chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO standard rounds.

The rifle fires ammunition in semi automatic and fully automatic modes and can be fed through 20-round box magazine. The rifle weighs 4.4kg and can be mounted with fixed hooded front post and adjustable rotary rear sight.

The cyclic rate of fire of the G3A3 is 500 to 600 rounds per minute and the effective range is 400m.

Maadi MISR

The Maadi MISR, an Egyptian derivative of Russian AKM, is produced by Maadi Engineering Industries Company (Factory 54). It is the primary assault rifle in service with the Egyptian Army and is chambered for 7.62mm ammunition.

The gas operated, selective fire weapon weighs about 3.85kg and is fed by 30-round detachable box magazine. It features a front adjustable post and U-notch at rear, and its modified upper receiver can be mounted with NATO standard optics.

The rifle has a cyclic rate of fire of 600 rounds a minute and an effective range of 300m.

Khaybar KH2002 Assault Rifle

The Khaybar KH2002 is an Iranian assault rifle based on the DIO S 5.56 assault rifle which itself is a direct copy of the Chinese CQ assault rifle. The Khaybar has been developed by Iran's Defence Industries Organization (DIO) for the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (IRIA).

The gas operated, selective fire assault rifle is chambered for the NATO standard 5.56x45mm ammunition. It has a weight of 3.7kg with empty magazine and can be fed through NATO (M16-type) 20 or 30-round magazines.

The KH2002 rifle has a cyclic rate of fire of 800 to 850 rounds per minute, while its effective firing range is 420m. It incorporates open type sights and carrying handle mounted with rear sight.